LOS ANGELES — Back on January 4, 2011, this reporter wrote, “…the [Los Angeles] Kings’ inconsistency is so often apparent that it can be maddening, and is a stark contrast to where they need and want to be.”

]No one can say that the Kings have successfully addressed that issue yet this season, given the fact that they lost ten out of their previous twelve games before winning two straight, including a brilliantly-played 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins in front of an announced sellout crowd of 18,118 fans at Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 24.

The game turned out to be a goaltender’s duel, with Kings netminder Jonathan Quick besting Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, arguably the best goaltender in the league so far this season.

Despite the fact that the Kings put in one of their best performances of the season, they are still a Jekkyl and Hyde team with huge ups and downs, whether one is looking at their play within a particular game, or at a stretch of games.

But against Boston, for one night, at least, the Kings were flying at full speed, and played so well that they were completely dominant at times—it was one of their finest performances on the season, and it showed that when they are on their game, they are not only dangerous, but they can beat the National Hockey League’s best teams.

Now…if only they could remember that…

NOTES

Quick earned his 13th career shutout, which is fourth all-time in Kings history. Rogie Vachon had 32, Jamie Storr had 16 and Felix Potvin had 14.

Quick earned his fifth shutout this season, which is tied for fourth on the Kings’ single-season list. Vachon has the club single-season record with eight shutouts in 1976-77.

Ryan Smyth scored his 149th career power play goal and 51st career game-winning goal. He also has twelve points in the last 14 games (seven goals, five assists).

The Kings have beaten Boston five straight times since March 19, 2009.

The Kings have now allowed eleven goals in their last six games (1.83 per game).

The Kings allowed 34 shots tonight, the first time they’ve allowed thirty shots in the last eight games and third time in the last 19 games.

Willie Mitchell had five blocked shots.

The Kings are now 20-8-0 when scoring first, 15-0-0 when leading after two periods and 21-6-0 when allowing two or fewer goals.

Anze Kopitar has 15 points in the last 16 games (two goals, 13 assists).

Drew Doughty has 19 points in the last 22 games (three goals, 16 assists).

Jarret Stoll has eight points in the last ten games (six goals, two assists).

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